Leveraging RNA interference technology for selective and sustainable crop protection.

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) has emerged as key player in gene silencing for the past two decades. Tailor-made dsRNA is now recognized a versatile raw material, suitable for a wide range of applications in biopesticide formulations, including insect control to pesticide resistance management. The mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi) acts at the messenger RNA (mRNA) level, utilizing a sequence-dependent approach that makes it unique in term of effectiveness and specificity compared to conventional agrochemicals.

Unlocking antagonistic potential of KRS005 to control gray mold.

To establish a safe, efficient, and simple biocontrol measure for gray mold disease caused by , the basic characteristics and antifungal activity of KRS005 were studied from multiple aspects including morphological observation, multilocus sequence analysis and typing (MLSA-MLST), physical-biochemical assays, broad-spectrum inhibitory activities, control efficiency of gray mold, and determination of plant immunity. The strain KRS005, identified as , demonstrated broad-spectrum inhibitory activities against various pathogenic fungi by dual confrontation culture assays, of which the inhibition rate of was up to 90.3%.